The Calgary Highlanders is a
Canadian Army
The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also res ...
Primary Reserve
The Primary Reserve of the Canadian Armed Forces (french: links=no, Première réserve des Forces canadiennes) is the first and largest of the four sub-components of the Canadian Armed Forces reserves, followed by the Supplementary Reserve, the ...
infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...
regiment
A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation.
In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...
, headquartered at
Mewata Armouries
Mewata Armoury (also referred to as Mewata Armouries) is a Canadian Forces reserve armoury in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ''Mewata'' ( is derived from the Cree word (), meaning "Oh, be joyful".
The building was built between 1915 and 1918 for a ...
in
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, makin ...
, Canada. The regiment is a part-time reserve unit, under the command of
41 Canadian Brigade Group
41 Canadian Brigade Group (41 CBG; french: links=no, 41e Groupe-brigade du Canada) is a Canadian Army formation of the 3rd Canadian Division. The formation is composed of Army Reserve units within the province of Alberta and the Northwest T ...
, itself part of
3rd Canadian Division
The 3rd Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army responsible for the command and mobilization of all army units in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as all units extending westwards from th ...
, one of four region-based Canadian Army divisions. The regiment is one of only two regiments in the Canadian Forces (with
) to wear an honorary distinction on their uniform, commemorating the
counterattack at Kitcheners' Wood. On 9 January 2015, the regiment was recognized with the Canadian Forces' Unit Commendation for outstanding contributions to the war in Afghanistan.
Badge
The badge is based on that worn by the 10th Battalion, CEF, which the regiment perpetuates. Significantly, a
St. Andrew's Cross has been added to the design (this is not a representation of the
Roman Numeral
Roman numerals are a numeral system that originated in ancient Rome and remained the usual way of writing numbers throughout Europe well into the Late Middle Ages. Numbers are written with combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet, ea ...
ten as is often erroneously reported).
The crown is of the reigning monarch; a
Tudor Crown
The Tudor Crown, also known as Henry VIII's Crown, was the imperial crown, imperial and state crown of Kingdom of England, English monarchs from around the time of Henry VIII until it was destroyed during the English Civil War, Civil War in 16 ...
was used from the introduction of this badge until 1953, and the ascension of
Queen Elizabeth II. The crown was then changed to a
St. Edward's Crown
St Edward's Crown is the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Named after Saint Edward the Confessor, versions of it have traditionally been used to crown English and British monarchs at Coronation of the British monarch, the ...
. These are sometimes referred to as "King's" and "Queen's" Crowns. The beaver and maple leaves are representative of Canada and the scrolls bearing thistles are representative of Scotland. The City of Calgary grew out of
Fort Calgary
Fort Calgary was a North-West Mounted Police outpost at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers in present-day Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Originally named Fort Brisebois, after the outpost's first commander, the outpost was renamed ''Fort Calg ...
, established in 1875 and so named by Colonel
James Macleod
Lieutenant-Colonel James Farquharson Macleod (c. September 25, 1836 – September 5, 1894), born in Drynoch, Isle of Skye, Scotland, was a militia officer, lawyer, North-West Mounted Police officer, magistrate, judge, and politician in Alber ...
after
Calgary, Scotland, a location near his sister's home.
The badge appears not only as a
cap badge, but is also seen on the regiment's drums, as well as the drum major's sash and regimental pipe banners.
Lineage
On 1 April 1910 the regiment was raised as the
103rd Regiment "Calgary Rifles". In 1914 the 103rd contributed men to several battalions of the
Canadian Expeditionary Force, most notably the
10th Battalion, CEF
The 10th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a unit of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), specifically in the 1st Canadian Division from 1914 to 1919. The battalion participated in every major Canadian battle of the ...
. The 103rd also officially perpetuates the 56th and 82nd Battalions, CEF. The 10th Battalion officially disbanded in 1920.
The regiment was reorganized on 15 March 1920 as two separate regiments, The Alberta Regiment (now
The South Alberta Light Horse
, colours =
, march = "A Southerly Wind and a Cloudy Sky"
, mascot = Heine the Pony
, battles = North-West RebellionFirst World WarSecond World WarAfgh ...
) and The Calgary Regiment as part of the Otter Committee reorganizations.
[''Regiments and Corps of the Canadian Army'', Queen's Printer, 1964.] On 15 May 1924 The Calgary Regiment was again reorganized and split into two separate regiments, The Calgary Regiment (now
The King's Own Calgary Regiment
The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC), (''The King's Own'' or ''The KOCR''), is a Canadian Army armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve. Headquartered at the Mewata Armoury in Calgary, Alberta, the KOCR i ...
) and The Calgary Highlanders.
On 15 September 1921 The Calgary Regiment divided into six battalions, the 1st Battalion became the 1st Battalion, Calgary Highlanders, The Calgary Regiment. The 2nd Battalion, The Calgary Regiment later became the
King's Own Calgary Regiment
The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC), (''The King's Own'' or ''The KOCR''), is a Canadian Army armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve. Headquartered at the Mewata Armoury in Calgary, Alberta, the KOCR is ...
. The 3rd, 4th and 5th battalions were paper units that were never formed; they disbanded in the 1936 reorganizations of the Militia.
On 15 May 1924, The Calgary Regiment reorganized as separate regiments.
*Originated 1 April 1910 as the 103rd Regiment "Calgary Rifles"
*Reorganized 15 March 1920 as two separate regiments, The Alberta Regiment (now
The South Alberta Light Horse
, colours =
, march = "A Southerly Wind and a Cloudy Sky"
, mascot = Heine the Pony
, battles = North-West RebellionFirst World WarSecond World WarAfgh ...
) and The Calgary Regiment
*1st Battalion of The Calgary Regiment redesignated as 1st Battalion, Calgary Highlanders, The Calgary Regiment
*Reorganized 15 May 1924 as two separate regiments, The Calgary Regiment (now
The King's Own Calgary Regiment
The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC), (''The King's Own'' or ''The KOCR''), is a Canadian Army armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve. Headquartered at the Mewata Armoury in Calgary, Alberta, the KOCR i ...
) and The Calgary Highlanders
*Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Calgary Highlanders
*Redesignated 15 December 1945 as The Calgary Highlanders
Operational history
Great War
![Capbadgeof10thbattalionCEF](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Capbadgeof10thbattalionCEF.gif)
Details of the 103rd Regiment "Calgary Rifles" were called out on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.
![Men of the CEF 10th Alberta Battalion pass Stonehenge 1914](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Men_of_the_CEF_10th_Alberta_Battalion_pass_Stonehenge_1914.jpg)
The
10th Battalion (Canadians), CEF
The 10th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a unit of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), specifically in the 1st Canadian Division from 1914 to 1919. The battalion participated in every major Canadian battle of th ...
was authorized on 10 August 1914 and embarked for Britain on 29 September 1914. It disembarked in France on 14 February 1915, where it fought as part of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade,
1st Canadian Division
The 1st Canadian Division (French: ''1re Division du Canada'' ) is a joint operational command and control formation based at CFB Kingston, and falls under Canadian Joint Operations Command. It is a high-readiness unit, able to move on very shor ...
in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion disbanded on 30 August 1920.
The
56th Battalion (Calgary), CEF
The 56th Battalion (Calgary), CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. The 56th Battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 20 March 1916. It provided reinforcements ...
was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 20 March 1916. There it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 6 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 9th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion disbanded on 15 September 1917.
The
82nd Battalion, CEF
The 82nd Battalion, CEF, was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The 82nd Battalion was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Britain on 20 May 1916, where it provided reinforcements for the Canad ...
was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Britain on 20 May 1916. There it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 18 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 9th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion disbanded on 21 May 1917.
The Calgary Highlanders perpetuate all three battalions.
Second World War
The regiment mobilized for active service as The Calgary Highlanders, Canadian Active Service Force (CASF) on 1 September 1939. The regiment trained in Calgary until the summer of 1940 when it departed for
CFB Shilo
Canadian Forces Base Shilo (CFB Shilo; french: Base des Forces canadiennes Shilo — BFC Shilo) is an operations and training base of the Canadian Armed Forces, located east of Brandon, Manitoba and adjacent to Sprucewoods. During the 1990s, C ...
, Manitoba. It was re-designated as the 1st Battalion, The Calgary Highlanders, CASF, on 7 November 1940. On 27 August 1940, it embarked for Britain. In September 1940, the 1st Battalion arrived in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. The Calgary Highlanders, CASF (Canadian Active Service Force) joined the
Second Canadian Division
The 2nd Canadian Division (2 Cdn Div; french: 2e Division du Canada) is a formation of the Canadian Army in the province of Quebec, Canada. The present command was created 2013 when Land Force Quebec Area was re-designated. The main unit housed ...
there, and the 2nd Battalion was raised in Calgary for part-time service. The battalion's mortar platoon took part in the
Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942. On 6 July 1944, the battalion landed in France as part of the
5th Canadian Infantry Brigade,
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
The 2nd Canadian Division, an infantry division of the Canadian Army, was mobilized for war service on 1September 1939 at the outset of World War II. Adopting the designation of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, it was initially composed of v ...
, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war.
During the
Dieppe Raid of August 1942, the mortar platoon commanded by Lieutenant FJ Reynolds was attached to the
5th Canadian Infantry Brigade but stayed offshore during the raid. Sergeants Lyster and Pittaway were decorated with a Mention in Despatches for their part in shooting down two German aircraft during the raid, and one officer of the regiment was killed while ashore with a brigade headquarters.
Sergeant Clarence "Ken" Crockett, DCM, of the 1st Battalion, Calgary Highlanders, was nominated for the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
for actions in September 1944 and instead received the
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was a decoration established in 1854 by Queen Victoria for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration, ranki ...
.
The regiment selected the
Battle of Walcheren Causeway for annual commemoration after the war. The overseas battalion disbanded on 15 December 1945.
Post War
The Calgary Highlanders continued to train infantry soldiers in the late 1940s and into the 1950s. In the 1960s, as nuclear détente between the United States and the Soviet Union mounted, Militia units in Canada moved away from warfighting roles into national disaster training, a role not very well liked. By the 1970s, the Militia had once again focussed its training activities on war fighting.
In the 1980s, the regiment trained as mechanized infantry using the Grizzly Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Militiamen and even army cadets were routinely flown to NATO exercises in Germany, Norway and Alaska to participate in realistic training, as the perceived threat of
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact (WP) or Treaty of Warsaw, formally the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, was a collective defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Poland, between the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist repub ...
military aggression was felt to be high. After the fall of the
Berlin Wall and the end of the
Cold War, the emphasis on training throughout Force Mobile Command moved away from large-scale armoured formations fighting Soviet tank formations in central Europe. The Grizzlies were withdrawn by the mid-1990s and the regiment resumed training in a light infantry role.
Most significantly, The Calgary Highlanders have contributed hundreds of soldiers to peacekeeping missions in the years since 1945, including peacekeeping, peace enforcing, and observation missions in Cambodia, the Persian Gulf, the Middle East, the former Yugoslavia, and Sudan. Recently, they have contributed soldiers to the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, including the deployment in early 2008 of 55 soldiers.
Presentation of colours 1990
On 30 June 1990, Queen Elizabeth II presented the unit with a new queen's colour at a
Trooping the Colour
Trooping the Colour is a ceremony performed every year in London, United Kingdom, by regiments of the British Army. Similar events are held in other countries of the Commonwealth. Trooping the Colour has been a tradition of British infantry regi ...
ceremony held at
McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society.
The stadium is between the downtown core and the University of Calgary, north ...
in Calgary.
The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC)
The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC), (''The King's Own'' or ''The KOCR''), is a Canadian Army armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve. Headquartered at the Mewata Armoury in Calgary, Alberta, the KOCR is a ...
, who shared the queen with the Calgary Highlanders as colonel-in-chief, was also on parade and performed a mounted march-past with their vehicles. The combined bands of the Calgary Highlanders, the King's Own Calgary Regiment and
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were also on parade.
The largest peacetime deployment of the regiment occurred during the
2013 Alberta floods
In the days leading up to June 19, 2013, parts of southern and central Alberta, Canada experienced heavy rainfall that triggered catastrophic flooding described by the provincial government as the worst in Alberta's history. Areas along the Bo ...
when over 100 Calgary Highlanders were mobilized to assist the Calgary Emergency Management Agency with flood relief efforts.
Afghanistan
To qualify for a battle honour, CF units were required to contribute an aggregate of more than 20% of authorized strength to the various task forces which served in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014. The regiment contributed over 100% of its strength, and was awarded the
Canadian Forces' Unit Commendation for this achievement.
[DND Backgrounder](_blank)
/ref>
Alliances
In the mid-1920s, the regiment formed an official alliance with The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) of the British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
. In 2006, that affiliation officially ended as the Imperial Argylls were absorbed into the Royal Regiment of Scotland
The Royal Regiment of Scotland is the senior and only Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army Infantry. It consists of three regular (formerly five) and two reserve battalions, plus an incremental company, each formerly an indiv ...
. It is unclear if previous affiliations will be permissible between single battalions of the new regiment, or if any future affiliations will be with the regiment as a whole. In either event, all Canadian regiments now affiliated with British regiments scheduled for amalgamation will need to be renewed separately.
* – The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
Battle honours
Battle honours in bold type indicate honours emblazoned on the regimental colour.
First World War
Honorary distinction: Oak-leaf shoulder badge for the actions of the 10th "Overseas" Battalion, CEF, at the Battle of Kitcheners' Wood
The Battle of Kitcheners' Wood was fought during World War I during the Second Battle of Ypres.
Location
The name of this oak plantation derived from the French name, Bois-de-Cuisinères, where French troops housed their field kitchens, and ''n ...
on 22/23 April 1915.
Second World War
Southwest Asia
Facts
The Calgary Highlanders adopted many dress distinctions of the allied regiment in Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
in the 1920s and continue to cherish those distinctions into the 21st century, including the red and white diced Glengarry worn by all ranks (except pipers), the badger head sporran worn by officers, warrant officers, and senior NCOs, the six-point horsehair sporran worn by junior NCOs (except pipers), and the striped necktie of the 2nd Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, also worn by officers, warrant officers, senior NCOs, pipers and drummers of The Calgary Highlanders. It is unclear if any of these dress distinctions will continue to be worn in Scotland now that The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) have been amalgamated into the Royal Regiment of Scotland
The Royal Regiment of Scotland is the senior and only Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army Infantry. It consists of three regular (formerly five) and two reserve battalions, plus an incremental company, each formerly an indiv ...
.
History
1910–1938
The regiment dates back to 1 April 1910 and the creation of the 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles)
The 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles) was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Non-Permanent Active Militia, authorized at Calgary, Alberta, Canada, by General Order on 1 April 1910.
History
The 103rd Regiment was raised in Calgary as a militia ...
, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Armstrong. The regiment did not mobilize for the First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
; however, the 103rd Regiment contributed men to several overseas battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force beginning in 1914, including the 10th Battalion.
In 1921, the Canadian Militia was reorganized and the 103rd Regiment became simply "The Calgary Regiment". The 1st Battalion of this new unit became known as the Calgary Highlanders. The regiment was permitted to perpetuate the history of the 10th Battalion, CEF, and inherited that units battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags ("colours"), uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible.
In European military t ...
s (granted in 1929) as well as inheriting the memory of two Victoria Cross holders, Acting Sergeant Arthur George Knight
Arthur George Knight Victoria Cross, VC (26 June 1886 – 3 September 1918) was an English people, English-Canadians, Canadian soldier. Knight was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can ...
and Private Harry W. Brown, both of whom were awarded the VC posthumously in the last year and a half of the Great War.
The process for awarding battle honours for the First World War took over a decade, and The Calgary Highlanders were first awarded battle honours for the actions of the 10th Battalion, CEF, on 15 September 1929.
The official granting of battle honours to the 10th Battalion was not done until 15 October of the same year. There was also one minor change; while the Calgary Highlanders were granted "Arras, 1917, '18" as a battle honour, the 10th Battalion's honour read only "Arras, 1917."
While the overall battle of Saint-Julien was considered worthy of a battle honour, to the dismay of those regiments perpetuating the units involved, the counter-attack at Kitcheners' Wood was not. This counterattack, 22 April 1915, was thrown into the first German gas attack of the war. In recognition of this gallant effort and the persistence of the Winnipeg Light Infantry
, anniversaries = Battle of Kitcheners' Wood
, battles = North-West RebellionFirst World WarSecond World War
, battle_honours = See #Battle Honours
The Winnipeg Light Infantry was an infant ...
, the Calgary Highlanders and the Canadian Scottish, a special 'honorary distinction' was granted by Order in Council No. 10, 1934, of a special oak leaf shoulder badge now unique in the Canadian armed forces, and worn only by those three regiments at the time of adoption in 1938, and today by only two units, The Calgary Highlanders and .
1939–1945
The Calgary Highlanders pioneered battle drill for the Canadian Army
The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also res ...
, which was a realistic system of training infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...
for the hardships of modern war. They themselves learned battle drill from the British 47th Division.
On 6 July 1944, one month after the Normandy
Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
landings, the regiment landed in France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
. In Operation Spring, the Calgary Highlanders were part of the Battle of Verrières Ridge
The Battle of Verrières Ridge was a series of engagements fought as part of the Battle of Normandy, in Calvados, during the Second World War. The main combatants were two Canadian infantry divisions—with additional support from the Canadian ...
, along with the Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regime ...
, in which the regiment took heavy casualties. The unit saw extensive action in Normandy, marched through Dieppe
Dieppe (; Norman: ''Dgieppe'') is a coastal commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northern France.
Dieppe is a seaport on the English Channel at the mouth of the river Arques. A regular ferry service runs to N ...
with the 2nd Division in September 1944 as liberators, then moved on to the fighting for the Channel Ports
The Channel Ports are seaports in southern England and the facing continent, which allow for short crossings of the English Channel. There is no formal definition, but there is a general understanding of the term. Some ferry companies divide thei ...
. By the end of September the regiment was in Belgium and forced a crossing of the Albert Canal
The Albert Canal (, ) is a canal located in northeastern Belgium, which was named for King Albert I of Belgium. The Albert Canal connects Antwerp with Liège, and also the Meuse river with the Scheldt river. It also connects with the Dessel†...
, northeast of Antwerp.
The regiment saw extensive fighting in the Netherlands in October 1944, opening the way to South Beveland
Zuid-Beveland (; "South Beveland") is part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Western Scheldt and south of the Eastern Scheldt.
Topography
It is a former island, now peninsula, crossed by the Canal through Zuid-Bevela ...
, and then west to the Walcheren Island Causeway where the brigade fought an extended battle beginning on Hallowe'en night.
From November to February 1945 the regiment wintered in the Nijmegen Salient
Nijmegen (;; Spanish and it, Nimega. South Guelderish, Nijmeegs: ''Nimwèège'' ) is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and tenth largest of the Netherlands as a whole, located on the Waal (river), Waal river close to th ...
, then was back in action in the Rhineland
The Rhineland (german: Rheinland; french: Rhénanie; nl, Rijnland; ksh, Rhingland; Latinised name: ''Rhenania'') is a loosely defined area of Western Germany along the Rhine, chiefly its middle section.
Term
Historically, the Rhinelands ...
fighting, clearing the last approaches to the River Rhine itself. Fighting resumed on the far bank in March, and city fighting in Doetinchem
Doetinchem (; Low Saxon: ) is a city and municipality in the east of the Netherlands. It is situated along the Oude IJssel (Old IJssel) river in a part of the province of Gelderland called the Achterhoek. The municipality had a population of in ...
and Groningen followed. The regiment ended the war on VE Day
Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the official end of World War II in Europe in the Easter ...
on German soil.
The Victory Campaign had cost The Calgary Highlanders over 400 men killed, from a war establishment of just over 800 men. Several times that many were wounded in action.
History 2010 to present
The regiment observed its centennial in 2010, an anniversary shared with its sister unit, The King's Own Calgary Regiment
The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC), (''The King's Own'' or ''The KOCR''), is a Canadian Army armoured reconnaissance regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve. Headquartered at the Mewata Armoury in Calgary, Alberta, the KOCR i ...
, as well as fellow unit in the Calgary garrison, 14 (Calgary) Service Battalion, as well as the Canadian Navy (represented in Calgary by ). The centennial was marked by several unique events, including the last ever military parade at Currie Barracks in Calgary, and an overseas pilgrimage to battlefield sites and places of regimental significance which included the dedication of plaques at Hill 67 and Clair Tison. Also originally part of the centennial events was the announcement of a Calgary Soldiers' Memorial, which was later dedicated on the anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge in 2011. In May 2014, the regiment was awarded the Battle Honour "Afghanistan." As part of Canada's role in the Afghanistan War, the regiment deployed over 100 soldiers to the theatre as individual augmentees and on other assignments with the Regular Force, to a total of 126 separate tours of duty. One officer of the regiment was Mentioned in Despatches and others were recognized by commendations. The Regiment was awarded the Battle Honour "Afghanistan" on 9 May 2014. The unit received the Canadian Forces' Unit Commendation on 9 January 2015.
File:Calgary Highlanders Exercise Black Bear 2004.jpg, Exercise Black Bear 2004
Uniform
In addition to the cap badge and oak leaf shoulder titles mentioned above, the regiment wears several other notable distinctions of dress.
;Headdress
The red and white diced glengarry of the Argylls is worn by all ranks (except pipers, who wear black). In combat dress, the khaki tam o'shanter is worn by junior NCMs with the balmoral worn by senior NCMs and officers. A cap badge in yellow metal is worn by trained privates who are not yet infantry qualified. Infantry qualified junior NCMs wear a bronze cap badge, and senior NCMs, officers, and pipe band musicians all wear a nickel-plated cap badge. Tradesmen wear the badge of their branch, as appropriate.
;Ceremonial dress
The theoretical full dress uniform for the regiment would be a scarlet jacket and feather bonnet; this uniform has never been worn in actuality. The regiment did adopt a green coatee
A coatee was a type of tight fitting uniform coat or jacket, which was waist length at the front and had short tails behind. The coatee began to replace the long tail coat in western armies at the end of the eighteenth century, but was itself su ...
in the 1950s, and has retained it as the standard ceremonial uniform; they are worn only by the regimental colour party or by small parties for special occasions (such as weddings, etc.). The Pipes and Drums have always retained full ceremonial band dress, consisting of green doublets for pipers and scarlet doublets with crown lace for drummers. Pipers wear a black cock feather in their glengarries in full dress, with drummers wearing the feather bonnet
The feather bonnet is a type of military headdress used mainly by the Scottish Highland infantry regiments of the British Army from about 1763 until the outbreak of World War I. It is now mostly worn by pipers and drummers in various bands throu ...
.
;Highland dress
The Government tartan kilt is worn, with pleats arranged in box style according to the pattern worn by the Argylls. Several types of sporran are worn. All ranks wear a brown leather purse when in walking-out dress (i.e. with green Lovat hose); NCMs wear a simpler version with brass stud closure, officers wear a separate pattern with hidden snap fastener. For dress parades (commanding officer's parade dress), corporals and master corporals wear the six-point horsehair sporran while senior NCMs and officers wear a badger head sporran. Pipers wear three-point horsehair sporrans while the pipe major and drum major wear a separate pattern of three-point sporran. Hose tops and diced hose are in red/white dice, with pipers wearing Rob Roy tartan (red/black dice).
Honorary Colonel R.B. Bennett originally outfitted the Pipes and Drums with Royal Stewart tartan kilts and plaids in the 1920s; when the band of the 1st Battalion arrived in England in 1940 they were very quickly informed that Royal Stewart was the prerogative of royal regiments only, and they were to cease wear of that tartan at once. Pipers in the 2nd Battalion (Calgary) continued to wear Royal Stewart tartan until 1947.
File:Black Watch or Campbell tartan.svg, "Government sett", also known as the Black Watch tartan
Tartan ( gd, breacan ) is a patterned cloth consisting of criss-crossed, horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Sc ...
.
;Mess dress
Mess dress
Mess dress uniform is the most formal (or semi-formal, depending on the country) type of uniforms used by military personnel, police personnel, and other uniformed services members. It frequently consists of a mess jacket, trousers, white d ...
for officers and senior NCMs is based closely on that worn by the Argylls; Honorary Colonel Mannix approved a new distinctive pattern officers' mess jacket in the 1980s, which featured buttons on a turn-back cuff, which differed from the Argylls pattern.
;Combat dress
Other than regimental headdress (when not wearing the CADPAT field cap or helmet), the only distinction a Calgary Highlander has in combat dress are the CALG HIGHRS titles on his slip-ons.
;Regimental order
The regiment created its own order, the Clan of the Gallant Canadians
The Clan of the Gallant Canadians is an unofficial Order created by The Calgary Highlanders of the Canadian Forces and the first such regimental order to be approved by the Canadian sovereign, and the first in the British Empire and Commonwealt ...
, in 1992.
Traditions
The Regimental Birthday is April 1. It was on 1 April 1910 that the 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles) was officially founded. The regiment toasts the occasion with Black Velvet and raw oysters, homage to the original toasts offered by the founder, Lieutenant-Colonel W.C.G. Armstrong and his officers in 1910. The weekend closest to April 22 is when St. Julien's Day is formally recognized, commemorating the role of the 10th Battalion in the Battle of St. Julien in 1915. The parade day closest to October 31 commemorates the role of The Calgary Highlanders in the Battle of Walcheren Causeway.
Regimental association
The 10th Battalion Association was merged with The Calgary Highlanders Association in 1956 to become the 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association.
During the Second World War, ''The Glen'' was the regimental newspaper of the overseas battalion beginning in September 1939, and ''The Glen'' continues to be the regimental journal of the 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association. ''The Glen'' is published semi-regularly.
Notable members
*General John de Chastelain
Alfred John Gardyne Drummond de Chastelain (born 30 July 1937) is a British-Canadian retired army officer and diplomat.
De Chastelain was born in Romania to Scottish and American parents and was educated in England and Scotland before his famil ...
, who served two terms as Chief of the Defence Staff, began his military career as a private in the Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders. On 30 June 1990, while serving as CDS, he paraded as a piper with the band during the Presentation of Queen's Colour at McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society.
The stadium is between the downtown core and the University of Calgary, north ...
.
*Brigadier-General G.J.P. O'Brien, OMM, MSC, CD, served in the ranks of the Calgary Highlanders from 1976 to 1979, including a tour of duty with UNDOF
The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) is a United Nations peacekeeping mission tasked with maintaining the ceasefire between Israel and Syria in the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The mission was established by Unit ...
. He later transferred to 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, where he was commissioned, went on to command the regiment as a lieutenant-colonel, then commanded 31 Canadian Brigade Group, and was appointed Director General Land Reserve in 2006.
*Lieutenant-Colonel J.G. McQueen was the first commander of the Canadian contingent of the First Special Service Force
The 1st Special Service Force was an elite American–Canadian commando unit in World War II, under the command of the United States Fifth Army. The unit was organized in 1942 and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana i ...
(The Devil's Brigade).
*Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Tennant rose from the rank of private in 1939 to the rank of major in 1944, and commanded the peacetime regiment after the Second World War. He was also appointed honorary lieutenant-colonel. In civilian life he served for many years as an alderman of the City of Calgary. He was admitted to the Order of Canada following his political service.
*Lieutenant Carl Nickle, later Member of Parliament and member of the Order of Canada.
*Four Calgary Highlanders officers served in the CANLOAN The CANLOAN program (or the Canada Loan program) was a scheme created in 1944 to loan officers from the Canadian Army to serve in British Army units. The program's initial aims were to help supplement the undermanned British Army officer corps and p ...
project during the Second World War, two were captured at Arnhem, one was killed in Normandy with the Royal Scots, and one became the last CANLOAN to die in action when he was killed with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in April 1945.
*Sergeants Lyster and Pittaway were mentioned in despatches for their part in shooting down two German aircraft during the Dieppe Raid.
* Scruffy Wallace was a piper in The Calgary Highlanders before leaving the CF and becoming a member of Dropkick Murphys.
File:Cdsdechastelain.jpg, CDS General de Chastelain (left), 30 June 1990
Regimental monuments
As part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of VE Day
Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the official end of World War II in Europe in the Easter ...
, a special celebrations committee in Doetinchem
Doetinchem (; Low Saxon: ) is a city and municipality in the east of the Netherlands. It is situated along the Oude IJssel (Old IJssel) river in a part of the province of Gelderland called the Achterhoek. The municipality had a population of in ...
, Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
, recommended that the city park be renamed in honour of Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Tennant and that a monument for the Calgary Highlanders who were killed in the fighting there be established. Tennant distinguished himself during the battle for Doetinchem where the Highlanders fought to clear the city between 1 and 3 April 1945.
As a measure of thanks on the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, the City of Doetinchem
Doetinchem (; Low Saxon: ) is a city and municipality in the east of the Netherlands. It is situated along the Oude IJssel (Old IJssel) river in a part of the province of Gelderland called the Achterhoek. The municipality had a population of in ...
named the park "Mark Tennantplantsoen – Een Canadese bevrijder" – "Mark Tennant Park, A Canadian Liberator." Trees in the park still contained shrapnel
Shrapnel may refer to:
Military
* Shrapnel shell, explosive artillery munitions, generally for anti-personnel use
* Shrapnel (fragment), a hard loose material
Popular culture
* ''Shrapnel'' (Radical Comics)
* ''Shrapnel'', a game by Adam C ...
; mute evidence of the fighting that raged there in April 1945.
The Calgary Soldiers' Memorial bears the names of all Calgary area soldiers who died in war from 1914, with separate sections for both the 10th Battalion, CEF
The 10th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force was a unit of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), specifically in the 1st Canadian Division from 1914 to 1919. The battalion participated in every major Canadian battle of the ...
and The Calgary Highlanders.
Regimental plaques can be found at various sites, including Mewata Armouries
Mewata Armoury (also referred to as Mewata Armouries) is a Canadian Forces reserve armoury in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ''Mewata'' ( is derived from the Cree word (), meaning "Oh, be joyful".
The building was built between 1915 and 1918 for a ...
, Hill 67, Clair Tizon and Loon Plage in Normandy. A plaque to the predecessor unit, the 10th Battalion, can be found at Villers-lès-Cagnicourt, commemorating the Victoria Cross action of Sergeant Arthur Knight, VC.
Order of precedence
Regimental museum
The Military Museums
The Military Museums is a reorganization of the former Museum of the Regiments in Calgary, Alberta, announced by Sophie, Countess of Wessex, on June 3, 2006. The new museum comprises the former Museum of the Regiments as well as the relocated Nav ...
Film portrayals
*''The Devil's Brigade'' (1968). Two main characters can be seen wearing the insignia of the Calgary Highlanders, Corporal Peacock and Private MacDonald (Richard Dawson).
*'' Legends of the Fall'' (1994). The character of Samuel Ludlow (Henry Thomas) very clearly wears the insignia of the 10th Battalion, CEF. It is presumed that Tristan Ludlow (Brad Pitt) and Alfred Ludlow (Aidan Quinn) also belong to the same battalion, but neither costume nor dialogue confirm this though a voiceover
Voice-over (also known as off-camera or off-stage commentary) is a production technique where a voice—that is not part of the narrative (non- diegetic)—is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations. ...
indicates that all three enlisted together in Calgary.
*'' Passchendaele'' (2008). This film project, announced by Paul Gross
Paul Michael Gross OC (born April 30, 1959) is a Canadian actor, director, writer, producer, and musician born in Calgary, Alberta.
Gross is known for his lead role as Constable Benton Fraser in the popular Canadian television series ''Due So ...
, filmed in Alberta in the autumn of 2007; Gross depicts a character inspired by his grandfather, Sergeant Michael Dunne, who served in the 10th Battalion, CEF. The film opened at the Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a perman ...
on September 4, 2008, and was released in Canada on October 17, 2008. Historical figures are referenced in the film, for example characters named Colonel Ormand and RSM Watchman are named after living historical counterparts that served with the 10th Battalion.IMDB cast and crew listing
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*'' The Forgotten Battle'' (2020). The crossing of the Walcheren Causeway is depicted in this film.
Associated Army Cadet corps
2137 RCACC (Calgary Highlanders)
3125 Chestermere RCACC (Calgary Highlanders)
3016 Airdrie RCACC (Calgary Highlanders)
*2383 Foothills RCACC (Calgary Highlanders)
See also
* Canadian-Scottish regiment
*Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders
{{Infobox pipe band
, name = Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders
, image =
, established =
, location = Calgary, Alberta
, grade = 3
, major = Bill O'Neil
, sergeant = Perry Andress
, tartan = Government
, sponsor = Can ...
* Eswyn Lyster - warbride author, married to Captain Bill Lyster, Calgary Highlanders
References
* Barnes, RM, ''The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments'', London, Sphere Books Limited, 1972.
Music
* 80 Years of Glory by Calgary Highlanders (Aug 17 1993) Audio CD
Further reading
*''The History of The Calgary Highlanders 1921–1954'' by Major Roy Farran, DSO, MC (Bryant Press, 1954) 221 pages, no ISBN, now out of print
*''Battalion of Heroes: The Calgary Highlanders in World War Two'' by Doctor David Jay Bercuson (Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation, 1994) 297 pages, 48 pages of illustrations and maps.
*''Gallant Calgarians: The Story of the 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association Heritage Section, 1995-2006'' (Published by the 10th Battalion Calgary Highlanders Association Heritage Section) 98 pages, illustrated with 200 colour photographs
*''Gallant Canadians: The Story of the Tenth Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1914–1919'' by Daniel G. Dancocks (Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation, 1990) 251 pages, lavishly illustrated throughout with photos and maps
*''The Brigade: The Fifth Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1939–1945'' by Dr. Terry Copp (Fortress Publications, Stoney Creek, ON, 1992)
*''Far From Home: A Memoir of a 20th Century Soldier'' by Jeffery Williams. (University of Calgary Press, 2003) 374 pages, many illustrations.
*''A Backward Glance: The Personal Story of an Infantry Signaller with the Calgary Highlanders in World War Two'' by Frank Holm (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario: Self Published, 1989)
*"A Bloody Miracle: A Calgary Highlander Mortar Platoon at the Dieppe Raid" by Eswyn Lyster (''Legion Magazine'' 1989, also in ''True Canadian War Stories'', Jane Dewar, ed., Lester, Orpen and Denny 2002 : )
External links
*
Regimental Association
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051215212650/http://www.calgaryhighlanders.com/history/dieppe.htm Calgary Highlanders at the Dieppe Raid, incl. Eswyn Lyster's, "Bloody Miracle", based on Sgt's Bill Lyster and Bert Pittaway's account of the day]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Calgary Highlanders
Calgary Highlanders
Infantry regiments of Canada
Highland & Scottish regiments of Canada
Military units and formations of Alberta
Infantry regiments of Canada in World War II
Organizations based in Calgary
Military units and formations established in 1910